At iLEAD Lancaster—a tuition-free public charter school right here in Lancaster, California—we believe education should inspire learners to look beyond textbooks and solve real-world challenges.

This fall, one group of innovative learners took that philosophy further than ever before: 250 miles above Earth.

We are beyond proud to celebrate DreamUp Team Turkey Tail, a team of ambitious iLEAD Lancaster learners whose environmental science experiment officially launched to the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab!

The Mission: Fungi in Microgravity

Team Turkey Tail set out to investigate a fascinating and critical question in environmental science:

How does microgravity affect the ability of Turkey Tail mushrooms (Trametes versicolor) to perform mycoremediation in soil?

Mycoremediation is the natural process by which fungi break down contaminants and pollutants in soil and water. As humanity looks toward long-term space exploration and establishing sustainable habitats on the Moon or Mars, understanding how to detoxify environments and recycle organic matter in microgravity will be essential.

Equally important, their discoveries could help unlock more efficient methods for cleaning up contaminated soil right here in our own communities on Earth.

From the Stage to the Stars

October proved to be an unforgettable month of milestones for Team Turkey Tail:

• October 13 – Launch to the ISS: The team’s payload officially rocketed into orbit, arriving at the International Space Station where astronauts are running the experiment inside the ISS National Lab.

• October 15 – Presenting to the World: Just days after the launch, our learners took center stage at the DreamUp to Space x STARward STEM Space Conference, presenting their research, design process, and experimental hypothesis to a live, enthusiastic audience of peers, educators, and aerospace professionals.

Ground Control: Learning by Doing

While astronauts handle the orbital portion of the investigation, the work hasn’t stopped back home.

In true iLEAD fashion, Team Turkey Tail is currently conducting parallel ground control tests at our Lancaster campus. By comparing the Earth-bound fungi’s growth and breakdown rates to the microgravity samples returning from orbit, our young researchers will analyze real scientific data to see how gravity influences fungal biology.

This hands-on, project-based approach is at the core of everything we do at iLEAD Lancaster. Our learners aren’t simply memorizing facts—they are acting as lead investigators, collaborating, problem-solving, and contributing genuine findings to the scientific community.

Looking Ahead

To the learners and facilitators of Team Turkey Tail: Congratulations on this incredible achievement! Your curiosity, resilience, and passion demonstrate that when given the tools and freedom to explore, the sky is never the limit.

Stay tuned as we continue to track the experiment’s progress aboard the ISS and share findings from our ground control team!